Welsh stars barred from All Blacks Test - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Welsh stars barred from All Blacks Test

24/10/2009 06:14:07 PM Comments (0)

Wales are set to be without their England-based rugby players for next month's Test against the All Blacks in Cardiff.

Premier Rugby, which runs the English club premiership, has barred Welsh players who earn their livings in England from taking part in the match as it is not in the International Rugby Board's official Test window.

Clubs are therefors not obliged to release players for the November 7 match at Millennium Stadium.

Wales will be without experienced halfback Dwayne Peel, who plays for Sale, a likely starter as first-choice No.9 Mike Phillips is missing after undergoing an ankle operation.

Welsh coach Warren Gatland will also be without Sale prop Eifion Lewis-Roberts, who was likely to start in the absence of injured tightheads Adam Jones and Rhys Thomas.

It leaves Wales contemplating the call-up of former Waikato and Chiefs prop Deacon Manu, who has qualified for Wales on residency grounds.

Manu was this week named in the Fiji squad and may have a choice to make when Gatland announces his squad on Sunday.

Other English-based players who could have been in contention are Gloucester's Gareth Delve and Nicky Robinson, Sale's Lee Thomas, Harlequins' Ceri Jones and Wasps' Warren Fury.

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